01
Unified regulator: IFSCA
A single authority oversees banking, capital markets, insurance and fund management - removing the multi-regulator complexity of mainland India.
About the city
A world-class district designed for finance, technology and modern urban growth
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City is India's first and only International Financial Services Centre, developed jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. Operational since 2015 and spanning 886 acres in Gandhinagar, it is modelled on global centres like Singapore's Marina Bay and Dubai's DIFC.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat886 acresOperational since 2015
By the numbers
Where GIFT City stands today
29 Mn+
Sq ft allotted
1,000+
Entities operational
20K+
Employment generated
USD 100 Bn+
Total banking asset size (Sept 2025)
The vision
A finance and IT zone serving India and the world
“The vision is to create a world-class finance and IT zone for India to provide services not only to India but to the entire world.”
- India's only IFSC - operational since 2015
- 886-acre integrated smart city masterplan
- Regulated by IFSCA under central legislation
- USD, EUR, GBP and other foreign-currency transactions permitted
- Gandhinagar, Gujarat - about 12 km from Ahmedabad
- Backed by the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat
- Multi-Services Special Economic Zone plus a Domestic Tariff Area
- Single-window clearances and plug-and-play infrastructure
Two zones
A Multi-Services SEZ and a domestic business district
The 886-acre masterplan is split into the IFSC SEZ zone, where IFSCA-regulated financial entities operate in foreign currency, and the Domestic Tariff Area, which hosts a broad business district.
IFSC SEZ zone
India's first International Financial Services Centre inside a Multi-Services Special Economic Zone. Banking, capital markets, fund management, insurance, bullion, finance companies, aircraft and ship leasing, global in-house centres, fintech, foreign universities and ancillary services all operate here under IFSCA.
GIFT Domestic Zone
A business district for companies serving the domestic market.
BankingMaritime clusterFinanceInsuranceIT & ITeSEngineeringFintechAutomobilesCapital marketPharmaceuticalsBio tech
Why it matters
Real regulatory, tax and currency advantages
02
Foreign currency operations
Entities inside the IFSC transact in USD, EUR, GBP and other foreign currencies. Domestic INR restrictions under FEMA do not apply to IFSC units.
03
Favourable tax framework
IFSC units enjoy a 10-year tax holiday (any 10 of the first 15 years), no GST on financial services, and exemption from STT, CTT and stamp duty.
04
Global fund domiciling
GIFT IFSC is a recognised jurisdiction for fund management entities, AIFs and FPIs - letting Indian-origin managers run global capital from India.
05
Aircraft and ship leasing
India's only operational leasing hub, competing with Ireland and Singapore under dedicated IFSCA frameworks for both aircraft and ships.
06
Global In-house Centres
Multinationals run captive financial-services units from GIFT IFSC, combining cost efficiency with a compliant regulatory home.
07
Fintech regulatory sandbox
IFSCA operates a live sandbox where fintech firms test innovative products under a supervised, time-bound experimental framework.
Timeline
From concept to a working financial centre
2007
Concept announced
GIFT City is conceived as a world-class finance and IT zone serving India and the world.
2011
First towers rise
GIFT One and GIFT Two - the first commercial towers - come up on the Sabarmati riverfront.
2015
IFSC becomes operational
India's first International Financial Services Centre begins operations inside the Multi-Services SEZ.
2017
International exchanges launch
NSE IX and India INX begin near round-the-clock trading in foreign currency.
2020
IFSCA established
A single unified regulator for the IFSC is created under the IFSCA Act, 2019, headquartered at GIFT City.
2021
Leasing frameworks issued
Aircraft leasing, ship leasing and finance company frameworks open a new asset-finance industry.
2022
Bullion exchange and universities
IIBX goes live and foreign universities are permitted to open campuses in the IFSC.
2026
Scale
1,147 IFSCA authorisations, USD 111 Bn+ banking assets, 1,000+ entities and 20K+ jobs.
Partners in development
Institutions building in GIFT City
Leading innovators across banking, technology and real estate are partnering with GIFT City.
HSBCIBMBank of AmericaStandard CharteredOracleGoogleHiranandaniSobhaBrigadeJNSLilavatiSavvyShivalikVenus
Compiled from official material published by GIFT City, GIFT Gujarat, IFSCA. Figures carry the period stated by the publishing authority. Always verify current requirements before acting.